SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 133 



hibiting wider points of difference than did those of Spain. In some cases 

 they doubtless owe it to particular courses of breeding — but more often, 

 pmliably, to concealed or forgotten infusions of other blood. 



The point has, indeed, been occasionally mooted, whether there are 

 any Merinos in the United States, descendants of the early importatione, 

 i>^ II n quest ionahlc purity of blood. That there are, has been recently defi 

 r.itely settled by a connected chain of undisputable and undisputed testimo- 

 ny,* not necessary here to be repeated. That, on the other hand, in the 

 recent rush of speculation, a marvelous facility has been evinced, in some 

 instances, ii. suddenly recollecting lost links in the chain of pedigree — or 

 in forgetting othejs which it would not be expedient to remember, no one 

 would require any proof who has seen some of the animals which have 

 been hawked through the country as full-bloods. 



" Taken collectively, the Spanish rams, according to Chancellor Living- 

 ston, yield about eight and a half pounds of wool, and the ewes five, which 

 loses half in washing — making four pounds and a quarter the average 

 weight of fleece of the rams, and two and a half the average of the ewes.t 

 Some varieties considerably exceed this estimate, and probably it. would 

 fall short if applied to the prime sheep of any variety." 



The fleeces of the Merinos at Rambouillet in France, it is stated in the 

 Report of M. Gilbert, to the National Institute, quoted by Mr. Living- 

 ston, | weigh, in the rams, from twelve to thirteen pounds (unwashed) wool 

 — taking rams and ewes together, it has "not quite attained to eight pounds, 

 after deducting the tags and the wool of the belly, which are sold sepa- 

 rately." Mr. Livingston remarks that the French pound is about one- 

 twelfth heavier than the English ; but on the other hand, that from the man- 

 rter of folding and housing sheep and feeding them on fallows in France, 

 they are very dirty, and lose 60 per cent, in washing."]] This would bring 

 the average of the Rambouillet flock to about four pounds, exclusive of 

 tag and belly wool. 



M. Lasteyrie gives the following annual averages per head of the Ram 

 houiilet flock: 1796, 6 lbs. 9 oz. -,^1191, 8 lbs. ; 1798, 7 lbs. ; 1799, S lbs. , 

 1800, S lbs.; 1801, 9 lbs. 1 oz. — This is umvashcd wool, and will lose half 

 in washing. Mr. Livingston's imported ewes averaged 5 lbs. 2 oz. ; his 

 rams 6 lbs. 7 oz., of unwashed wool.§ The later importations will, judg- 

 ing from the specimens I have seen, average much higher than the latter. 

 They are a large sheep, with good, but not the best, quality of Merino 

 wool — some of the larger stocks being rather coarse — and not very uni- 

 form, one with another, either in their appearance or fleeces — and are 

 most remarkable for the loose pendulous skin which hangs about their 

 necks, and lies in folds about their bodies. They are free from hair — 

 their wool, which is of good style, opens with a creamy color, and rich lus- 

 tre, on a fine rose-colored skin. Their wool is long on the back, shortish 

 on the belly — thick, but not so thick as that of many of the American Me- 

 rinos — very yolky, but destitute of concrete external gum. 



The American Merino has, as already intimated, diverged into families 

 or varieties presenting wide points of difference. The minor distinctions 

 ar3 numerous, but they may all, perhaps, be classed under three generaJ 

 heads. The first, is a large, short-legged, strong, exceedingly hardy sheep, 

 'jinying a heavy fleece, ranging from medium to fine — free from hair in 

 properly bred flocks — somewhat inclined to throatiness, but not so much 

 so as the Rambouillets — bred to exhibit external concrete gum in some 



* This testimony will be found in a Letter from me to A. B. Allen, Esq., in the December No of tlM 

 American Agriculturist, 1844, and in the Cultivator, I thick, of the same date — if not, the succeeding No. 

 t Livingston's Essay on Sheep, p 39 % Ibid., p. 49, et supra. 



U Littngston's Kssay on Sheep, p 51. § Ibid., Appendix. 



